The Senators this week

MONDAY AT PITTSBURGH

The Penguins might not be in the best of moods after dropping a 3-1 decision to the Phoenix Coyotes in the desert on Saturday evening. It completed a two-game western swing, as the Pens handled the Kings 4-1 in Los Angeles on Thursday. Defenceman Kris Letang was not in the Penguins lineup on Saturday due to illness. As usual, Pittsburgh is led by NHL points leader Sidney Crosby (75 points, 55 games) and the big Russian, Evgeni Malkin. The reigning Metropolitan Division leaders are especially tough on home ice — the Penguins are 22-4-0 at the Igloo.

7 p.m. TV: TSN, RDS

Radio: TSN 1200 AM

TUESDAY AT ST. LOUIS

These are the kinds of back-to-backs that make a hockey team sing the blues. First, the East’s premier team, then one of the top western clubs 24 hours later. Like the Penguins, the Blues believe in home ice advantage — they’re 20-5-2 at the Scottrade Center. The Senators did beat St. Louis 3-2 in overtime in a game at the Canadian Tire Centre on Dec. 16. Alex Steen, T.J. Oshie and David Backes are the Blues’ scoring threats and defenceman Alex Pietrangelo has 38 points in 54 games. Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester are a combined plus-32.

8 p.m. TV: Sportsnet

Radio: TSN 1200 AM

THURSDAY VS BUFFALO

In the past two seasons, the Sabres have been a cure for what ails the Senators. Ottawa was 6-2-0 against Buffalo from 2011-12 through 2012-13 and have won two of three this season. The lone defeat was in a shootout in Buffalo Dec. 10, a 2-1 Sabres win. Dead last in the overall standings, the Sabres are undergoing renovations with new GM Tim Murray, but pending UFA Matt Moulson was injured last week. He will be out of the lineup until after the Olympic break. Goaltender Ryan Miller, who might also be dealt, remains Buffalo’s best player. The Ottawa game has the Sabres in a back-to-back situation as they play host to the Penguins Wednesday.

7:30 p.m. TV: Sportsnet

Radio: TSN 1200 AM

SATURDAY AT BOSTON

We might bill this as the try-to-keep-your-focus game. It’s the last one before the Olympic break, meaning players will already be dreaming of warmer climes, or in the case of a chosen few, the Olympic hockey tournament of Sochi. Bruins captain Zdeno Chara won’t even be in Boston’s lineup as he will already be in Russia to carry Slovakia’s flag in the opening ceremonies. While the Senators have not matched up well against Boston in recent years, they have taken two of three meetings this season. Goaltender Tuukka Rask has been sitting out some games to rest and gear up for Sochi.